On the cusp of their own stardom, Viola Beach had been in the middle of a European tour when they died alongside manager Craig Tarry — their car plunged 80ft into a canal from a highway bridge in Sweden on Valentine’s Day.

The bridge was raised to allow an oil tanker to pass, but the car carried on and crashed.

An inquest found the driver, Craig, had no alcohol or drugs in his blood, and concluded he didn’t see the safety barrier.

The band were also due to play the legendary music festival SXSW in Austin, Texas, in March and had already recorded a session for the BBC Radio 1’s Introducing programme — a hotbed for emerging talent.

In the wake of the tragedy, ex OASIS legend LIAM GALLAGHER, THE STONE ROSES and KASABIAN were just some of the names who campaigned for the the band’s Swings & Waterslides single to chart, with the tune peaking at a frustrating number 11.

Coldplay’s backing in front of a 100,000-strong Glasto crowd could very well help them break into that elusive Top Ten position.

Biz Bit

CAROLINE FLACK is in pain after falling over in Majorca when she was merry following a few red wines.

On her radio show she told co-host GETHIN JONES: “I pretended it didn’t hurt but it really did and now I need to see a doctor.”

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THE organisers of the Guys’ Choice Awards could’ve been a bit more sensitive with GIGI HADID’s new accolade, as she has just split from ZAYN MALIK.

She was given an award called Our New Girlfriend, which couldn’t sound further from an Oscar.

With the dust barely settled on Richard’s shock departure, JAMIE LAMBERT, MICHAEL AUGER, MATT PAGAN and THOMAS J REDGRAVE were drafted in after KATHERINE JENKINS pulled out of the gig with a nasty stomach bug.

The lads flew from Jersey to kick off the match with a powerful-as-ever rendition of Abide With Me.

I told how Richard had sensationally quit after a bitter feud saw him get phased out by bandmates who had become annoyed at producers’ decisions to give him lead vocals on their next album.

The band are ploughing on with plans to release it without him. It will be released through Sony early next year and is being produced by Nick Patrick, the mastermind behind artists including STING, MICHAEL BALL and IL DIVO.

Meanwhile, the lads are deciding on whether or not to recruit a new fifth member.

Yesterday’s Old Trafford stars LOUIS TOMLINSON, and NIALL HORAN might be looking for a new day job. . .

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He flew to the UK last month to see Bip, who he met last year filming a version of Aladdin. A source said: “They were inseparable. He visited her flat and she spent time in his hotel room.” He wed actress Rachel Miner in 1998 but they split two years later. He then dated MILA KUNIS for eight years.
Talk about punching above his weight.

Black from the dead

JACK BLACK was the victim of a sick hoax yesterday.

Jack started trending on Twitter on Sunday morning after his band TENACIOUS D tweeted: “I’m sad to officially announce the death of Jack Black at the age of 46, rest in peace brother.”

Calum Best is a patron of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics

Calum said: “I opened up a lot. To be honest I shed a tear. It was the first time I’ve shed a tear since my dad died.” Calum admits he let himself go filming the show, screened on US channel E! this month.

He said: “There were a few nights where I drank a bit too much but in some ways I’m just like, ‘S**t, that’s me, and those are some of my demons still’.”